Sights

The history of this land has been flowing for thousands of years alongside the history of its people. And although the time of humans usually leaves gaps and unexplored points, the time of the land in Sitia has recorded its marks in every nook and cranny: on the rocks, in the ravines, in the caves and in its unique gorges

The glorious past of Sitia or Siteia is buried in over 80 archaeological sites and in more than 100 tracked down places of great archaeological interest. Thousands of findings are on display in Sitia’s archaeological museum.

This plateau is at an altitude of about 600 m. at the west side of Zakros. 30 km away from Sitia, Ziros is the center of the Lefki municipality. Around Ziros there are the villages Hametulo, Lamnoni, Kalo Horio and the coastal settlement of Xerocambos. The whole plateau is planted with vineyards and the region is famous for its wine and raki production

The village of Zakros 38 km southeast of Sitia,is the nearest permanent settlement to the Minoan site of Zakros a further 7 km away. The population (800 people) are fully involved in agriculture expecially in olive oil production. In the area is produced the best olive oil in the whole Crete.

Palekastro is a village 18 km away from Sitia.It took the name due the ruins of an old castle on the top of the hil l(Palekastro in Greek means old castle). It is not the capital of the municipality of Itanos and a fast growing turistic place due to the fact that is surrounded with marvellous beaches like Itanos, Chiona, Kouremenos, etc.

Three golden artefacts of great aesthetics and style, belonging to the collection of Dr Stelios Giamalakis, created to Nikolaos Platonas the conviction that the third Minoan palace of Crete lies buried in Kato Zakros. Nikolaos Platonas was not the first who believed in the existence of this Minoan Palace.

From the center of the village of Zakros, on the last footsteps of the international path E4, starts the hike of the famous Gorge of the Deads which ends near the Minoan palace in Kato Zakros.

Xerokambos or Xerokabos is a completely isolated village at the eastern part of Crete. The place is approachable from Ziros plateau by a winding breathtaking road through roughed, rocky mountains.